The Criminal Cases Review Commission, which looks into alleged miscarriages of justice, has appointed a full-time head of communications for the first time since it was set up in 1997.
Boris Worrall, a former Birmingham Evening Mail crime correspondent and latterly an area media manager for the National Crime Squad, has taken up the position.
The new appointment coincides with the arrival of the commission’s new chairman, Professor Graham Zellick.
As part of a review of the commission’s communications strategy, Worrall said he will be focusing on how to improve the service provided to the media.
“The commission has had a relatively low public profile, despite its unique nature and the interesting and extremely important work that it carries out. It is now well established and I feel the time is right to be more outward looking,” he said.
“There are clearly some difficult legal issues to be considered, but I am confident that in the coming months we can begin to increase access to the media and hopefully provide more material for both the immediate reporting of cases and more general feature work.”
A national survey of the media’s needs is planned and anyone with views or specific proposals for coverage is invited to contact Worrall by e-mail at ccrc-boris.worrall@gtnet.gov.uk or on his direct line 0121 633 1806
By Jon Slattery
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog